Context:

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Sri Lankan President Anura Kumara Dissanayake recently held bilateral discussions at the Presidential Secretariat in Colombo on Saturday. The high-level meeting resulted in the signing of several key agreements, reinforcing cooperation in defence, energy, digital transformation, health, and economic development.

Landmark Defence Pact and Key Agreements

A historic defence cooperation pact was signed, marking a major advancement in bilateral security relations. This first-ever framework agreement focuses on:

• Formalising joint military exercises for enhanced interoperability.
• Expanding training programmes for Sri Lankan defence personnel in India.
• Facilitating high-level exchanges between military officials.

This agreement represents a significant strategic shift, nearly four decades after the deployment of India's Peace Keeping Force (IPKF) in Sri Lanka.

Other Key Agreements

• Energy and Infrastructure: A tripartite MoU with the UAE was signed to develop Trincomalee as an energy hub, including a multi-product energy pipeline. The Sampur Solar Power Plant was inaugurated, alongside a grid interconnectivity agreement to enable Sri Lanka to export electricity.
• Digital Transformation: An MoU was signed to facilitate India’s digital solutions in supporting Sri Lanka’s digital transformation.
• Debt Restructuring and Economic Assistance: India announced a 2.4 billion Sri Lankan rupee support package to aid economic development in the Eastern Province.
• Renewable Energy: India committed $17 million to supply solar rooftop systems to 5,000 religious institutions, benefiting Hindu, Buddhist, Christian, and Muslim places of worship, while generating 25 MW of green energy.
• Health and Medicine:

o    An MoU was signed between the Indian Ministry of Health and Family Welfare and Sri Lanka’s Ministry of Health & Mass Media to enhance medical training, healthcare services, and technology exchange.

o    The Indian Pharmacopoeia Commission and Sri Lanka’s National Medicines Regulatory Authority entered into an agreement to improve pharmacopoeial standards and regulatory cooperation.

India’s Development Assistance to Sri Lanka

Prime Minister Modi announced a comprehensive capacity-building programme that will train 700 Sri Lankans annually in India. Additionally, India has pledged grant assistance for the restoration and development of culturally significant temples, including:

• Thirukoneswaram Temple in Trincomalee.
• Sita Eliya Temple in Nuwara Eliya.
• Sacred City Complex in Anuradhapura.

India will also facilitate the Exposition of Lord Buddha relics in Sri Lanka on International Vesak Day 2025.

Infrastructure and Energy Projects

• 5000 MT Temperature-Controlled Warehouse in Dambulla – Strengthening agricultural storage and supply chain management.
• 5000 Solar Rooftop Units for Religious Places – Covering all 25 districts, promoting renewable energy adoption.
• 120 MW Sampur Solar Project – A significant step towards sustainable energy, launched through a virtual ground-breaking ceremony.

Other major India-assisted projects inaugurated include:

• Upgraded Railway Track of the Maho-Omanthai Line – Improving rail connectivity and efficiency.
• Construction of Signalling System for the Maho-Anuradhapura Railway Line – Modernizing railway infrastructure for better operational safety.

Conclusion

Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to Sri Lanka reaffirmed the deep-rooted historical, cultural, and economic ties between the two nations. The agreements signed and projects launched demonstrate India’s proactive role in Sri Lanka’s economic growth, energy security, and technological transformation.